Nathaniel: Shit... I swear, I am seriously gonna throw this phone in the fucking river.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Nate, did you make breakfast? It smells delicious in here... What's wrong? You've got that look on your face.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. Help yourself. I gotta take this. It's my mom.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Thank you... Good luck.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Thanks. (to phone) Hello? ...I’m fine, Mom. No, I'm not coming home. ...You’d like if I pretended like all kinds of shit didn't happen... Oh yeah. I’m sure Bubba’s been crying his eyes out. ... Does Dad want me home? ...But does he want me home? … He wants me back if I can behave myself, you mean. I’m staying here, Mom. I’m... I’m OK. If you want me to keep being OK you need to let me stay here, OK? I love you and Dad. Bye. (to Aiden) Hey. Sorry.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Is everything alright?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. It's fine. I mean, it's not fine... But, I'll survive. They heard about Tim. Mom wanted me to come home.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Yeah, I heard.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. Yeah. Probably. Sorry. I didn't mean to get so loud.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): It's okay... Breakfast was very good.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. Heh. Thanks. I figured you didn't wanna cook like EVERY meal, and breakfast I can make. I can make dinner tonight, if you want. I know how to make soup, and between the two of us we can probably follow a recipe.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh. I think Zoe would kill us, if we made dinner. She seemed pretty offended by my creation yesterday.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. Let her do it then. She's actually good at that shit. ... Thanks for staying with us.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): It's been my pleasure... I'm not sure if you've notice this but I actually really enjoy spending time with you... I mean, when you're not yelling at me to go away. :-P
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah... Well, I can't have been real good company lately, yelling or no.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): You've had a lot going on, it's understandable... Speaking of being sparse. Have you seen Zoe at all today? I didn't see her when I was up at dawn doing my morning exercises. I figured I'd say hello before she went off to school.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): You were up at dawn? Jesus. Shit! If she's not up already she's gonna be late for school.
A moment later:
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Hey! Shortie! Get the fuck up! You're gonna be late!
Zoe (to Nathaniel): I'm up, I'm up! Shit. I totally overslept.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Well, move your ass. You want some coffee?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh god, yes please... I should just say fuck it & go back to bed. I can already tell it's going to be one of those days. But, I think they're supposed to post the cast list today.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heh. Yeah. You can't skip school everyday, you know. Here. There's food if you want it, and you have time.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh yeah, breakfast would be awesome... I can't believe I forgot to set my alarm last night.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heh. Yeah. That's weird of you. What the fuck did you do last night?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh, um... nothing.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Nothing, huh? Yeah fucking right. Keep your mysteries if you wanna. Go! Get to school!
Zoe (to Nathaniel): ... Yeah, if I portal, I should be there before the 2nd bell rings. Thanks for breakfast. See you tonight.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Later. Be fucking careful!
Zoe (to Nathaniel): I will. You do the same. Bye!
A minute later, at the Lovelace School of the Arts, East Piedmont:
Zoe (to Colin): Hey... I didn't expect to see you out here this morning. Were you waiting for me?
Colin (to Zoe): Hey! Yeah. We're kinda late! Come on!
Zoe (to Colin): I'm sorry I got you home so late... or so early. You didn't get in trouble, did you?
Colin (to Zoe): I don't think so. Neither one of my dads said anything this morning, so I think I'm good. How about you?
Zoe (to Colin): No, I think Nate has been too wrapped up in his own stuff and Aiden has been too worried about Nate to notice me...
Colin (to Zoe): That's kind of crappy. Well, I guess it's kinda understandable. He knew that kid that was mauled on the edge of town, right? I just can't imagine being in the same house with you, & not noticing you. Damn! I've gotta go. Lunch! You'll meet me, right? Oh! And cast list today! Don't forget. I can't say, but you should DEFINITELY check it.
Zoe (to Colin): Heh... I'll see you at lunch!
A couple hours later, at Poppy & Vincent's apartment, West Piedmont:
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Hey. Can I...? Oh. Shit. Sorry. I didn't realize you were working. Sorry. I won't bug you.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): I'll be done in a little while. Give me ten minutes or so to finish up & then I'm all yours.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Yeah. Alright. I'll leave you to it. I'm going to go find something to do.
A short time later:
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Hey Nate, I'm sorry about earlier. What was it that you needed to talk to me about?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Oh. Uh, I didn't need to talk to you about anything, really. I was just sick of moping around like a dick, and, um... I was hoping that, um... Never mind. If you have work to do... Never mind!
Aiden (to Nathaniel): No, no. I finished up what I was working on. I'm good. I'm all yours. What is it?
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Um, we've got a couple of hours before Zoe's home, and, um, I'm sick of feeling like shit. I was kinda hoping you'd be up for distracting me for a while...
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Oh? Did you have something in mind or should I just wing it? ;-)
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Jesus... You just love embarrassing the shit out of me, don't you?
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Just a little.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. Yeah. Maybe just a lot.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Well, you're cute when you make that shocked face.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Man, you keep that up, and I'm gonna end up with a huge ego AND a fucking awful attitude.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Heh.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Laugh it up. You're gonna be the poor fucking sap who's stuck dealing with me, you know.
Aiden (to Nathaniel): Maybe, that's my whole plan so you'll keep me around as I'll be the only one who can put up with you.
Nathaniel (to Aiden): Heh. I got news for you; you're already the only one who can put up with me.
A few hours later, at the Lovelace School of the Arts, East Piedmont:
Zoe: Oh shit! I've got the lead in Wicked... Fuck. I have to sing. They didn't make me sing. How do they know I can do that!?!
Colin (to Zoe): Hey! You saw the cast list! You look terrified. Why do you look terrified?
Zoe (to Colin): ...I'm Elphaba... I-- I have to sing... in front of people. Oh god...
Colin (to Zoe): Heh heh. Don't worry. You'll be FINE. Singing isn't hard. Besides, songs are WAY easier to memorize than lines. Besides, Edgar is on the cast. No matter how bad you are, you will sound AMAZING by comparison.
Zoe (to Colin): ... Are you trying to help me or make it worse? Jessica didn't even hear me sing. No one asked me about singing.
Colin (to Zoe): Oh. You're not excited about this are you? Like way not excited, huh? You don't have to do it if you don't want to you know. Heather's your understudy, so if you don't want to do it, she'll be THRILLED to do it.
Zoe (to Colin): WHAT!?! Fuck that Heather! She's one of the assholes that was picking on me the other day...
Colin (to Zoe): Yeah. I'm not exactly her biggest fan. She wants to be an *ACTRESS* so she tries out for everything, but NO ONE likes working with her, so she usually ends up as an understudy rather than the lead.
Zoe (to Colin): ... So, did I just get the lead because you're being Fiyero or because Jessica wanted me to be Elphaba?
Colin (to Zoe): Heh. More like the opposite, I think. Jessica was frothing at the mouth to get you for Elphaba after your monologue. I think she just assumed that you'd be OK with singing because I'm your boyfriend. Uh... When I say I'm a "theater nerd"... I mean THEATER. NERD. Singing, dancing, organized dance routine, Theater Nerd.
Zoe (to Colin): It's not that I'm against singing, it's just that I've never done it before... And, it slightly terrifies me.
Colin (to Zoe): Heh. You'll do fine. So, do you want to try it? Don't leave me alone with Heather!
Zoe (to Colin): No, I'm totally doing it. Fuck Heather.
Colin (to Zoe): Ha ha ha! There are worse reasons to do it than spite.
Zoe (to Colin): That is the only reason to do anything.
Colin (to Zoe): Ha ha ha! Well, I have no clever response to that.
A short time later, at Poppy & Vincent's apartment, West Piedmont:
Nathaniel (to Zoe): So... What the fuck is going on?
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Oh... I got picked for the lead... I have to sing, but I'll be damned if I let that Heather fucker make out with my boyfriend on stage. She's awful.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Heather Fucker? You wanna a cigarette, or will it ruin your singing voice? Ow! Use your words, dick!
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Yes, I want a fucking cigarette.
Nathaniel (to Zoe): Here. So, you got the lead in the play, huh? Told you.
Zoe (to Nathaniel): Yeah, you're a real smartie.
